Understanding Why Headlights Cause Glare
When you’re behind the wheel, a bright headlight shining in your eyes is all you notice. Your first thought isn’t, “Hmm, I wonder what lighting technology this blinding light uses!” However, solving the problem requires identifying its root cause—something many articles overlook or mention only briefly. Several factors contribute to this issue, so let’s examine each one more closely:
1) Taller Vehicles, Higher Lights
The growing popularity of SUVs has increased the number of higher-riding vehicles on the road. If you drive a lower vehicle, you’ll frequently encounter situations where even a dipped beam headlight appears excessively bright. In this case, reducing headlight brightness won’t eliminate glare; instead, it will make driving more dangerous for those in taller vehicles. Unless we ban SUVs or mandate a universal ride height, solving this issue remains difficult.
2) OEM LED Headlights
Many new vehicles come equipped with factory-installed LED headlights. While these lights tend to be brighter than halogen bulbs, they generally direct their beams in a way that minimizes glare. The problem arises when an LED-equipped vehicle crests a hill or rounds a sharp corner. This issue has always existed, but because LEDs are brighter, the glare appears worse than before.
3) Misaligned Headlights
Improperly aligned headlights easily cause glare. If a headlight points too high, it will shine directly into oncoming drivers’ eyes, making it blinding. An MOT inspection should detect and correct these misalignments, but until then, drivers may remain unaware of the problem. If you can safely and politely alert a driver to the issue, they might fix it before frustrating more people.
4) Poor-Quality Bulbs
Some bulbs create a misaligned beam pattern simply because of poor manufacturing. If a bulb fails to position the light source correctly, it scatters light in various directions—often into the eyes of oncoming drivers, creating a dangerous situation. Again, an MOT should catch and resolve this issue.
The Aftermarket LED and HID MOT Problem
Many articles blame aftermarket LED bulbs or HID kit upgrades for excessive glare, but they often fail to address the specifics of the issue.
Cheap, low-quality aftermarket upgrades create the same problem as poor-quality bulbs. They fail to produce the correct beam pattern, leading to glare. Since these bulbs shine brighter than the halogen bulbs they replace, the resulting glare can be intense.
Previously, MOT inspections flagged these issues, alerting drivers when their cheap upgrades were unsuitable. Ideally, this led them to revert to high-quality halogen bulbs or seek a properly designed LED or HID upgrade.
However, in 20XX, MOT rules changed. The new rule automatically failed any vehicle with an aftermarket LED or HID bulb installed in a halogen headlamp unit. The logic behind this change seemed simple: stop people from installing aftermarket LED bulbs and eliminate glare from poor-quality ones.
The Problem
This rule never stopped people from installing aftermarket LED or HID bulbs. Drivers want better nighttime visibility, and these products deliver that. The rule only pushed drivers to remove the bulbs before an MOT and reinstall them afterward. As a result, MOT inspectors no longer test these bulbs to determine if they are safe.
Now, drivers using cheap, poor-quality upgrades remain unaware of how much glare they produce, and they continue blinding others on the road.
The Solution
Fixing issues 1 and 2 won’t be easy. OEM LED headlights will remain standard due to their energy efficiency and advanced features like Matrix LEDs. SUVs are unlikely to disappear without legislation. While putting everyone in an SUV might solve the problem, it would create new challenges.
For issue 3, misaligned headlights should be identified and corrected during MOT inspections. Ideally, if a driver notices that others frequently flash their high beams at them, they will check their alignment before the next MOT. Increased police enforcement and the threat of fixed penalty notices could also encourage more drivers to ensure their headlights are properly adjusted.
For issue 4, the blanket MOT rule banning aftermarket LED or HID bulbs needs to be removed. Instead, these bulbs should be tested to ensure they meet safety standards. A penalty for glaring headlights caused by poor-quality bulbs would push drivers toward upgrades that meet proper standards.
Of course, all LED and HID upgrades we offer meet the highest quality standards and would pass an MOT beam pattern test if allowed.
Author: ABD.co.uk